Upper berth for sleeping-cars.



J. B. KILBURN & E. G. BUDD.

UPPER BERTH FOR SLEEPING CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1908.

B SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented May 25, 1909.

INVENTORS WITNESSES ATTORNEY J'. B. KILBURN & E. G. BUDD.

UPPER BERTH POR SLEEPING GARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1908.

INVENTORS 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented May 25 J. B. KILBURN L E. G. BUDD.

UPPER BERTH FOR SLEETING CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1908.

922,91 3. Patented May 25, 1909.

Q a SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFioE.

JOHN B. KILBURN AND EDWARD G. BUDD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNORS TO THE HALE AND KILBURN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

UPPER BERTH Fon sLisEPme-cans'. -'5y Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Application led May 27, 1908. Serial No. 435,220.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that We, JOHN B. KILBURN and EDWARD G. BUDD, both citizensof the United States, and residing at Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Up er Berths for Sleeping-Cars, of which thefoilowing is a specification. y

This invention relates to sleeping-cars and has reference particularly'to the construction of the upper berths of such ears.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction ofupper berth, the improvements being directed to making such a berth morecomfortable by making the upper surface thereof more yielding, and to soconstructinfIf the berth as to facilitate the operation of c eaning.

The construction of the upper berths of sleeping-cars heretoforeemployed has been o en to serious objection on the -ground that t e bedsthus provided have not been sufliciently soft and comfortable, and thishas been due to the fact that the springs for supporting the yieldingsurface of the bed have not been made of sufficient length because ofthe limitation im osed upon the total thickness of the berth 1n View ofthe limited space which it may occupy within the ear.

One object of our invention is to overcome this objection, and we havefound that this may be done by so constructing the berth as to utilizepractically all of the thickness of the berth in the length of thesprings for supporting the yielding surface of the bed. For this purposethe springs are extended at their lower ends all the way down to theane] of the berth and the latter is preferab y made of sheet-metal,since b thus decreasing its thickness the length o the s rings may becorrespondingly increased. hen so constiucted, the surface of the bed isso yieldingly supported as to make it quite comfortable, even though thetotal thickness of v the berth remains unchanged.

Another object of the invention is to )rovide a berth in which themattress .is made of a plurality of sections, any one of which may betaken out, cleaned and replaced independently of the other sections. lnthe uppr berths as heretofore constructed, con-A siderable difficultyhas been experienced in great inconvenience. in taking out a singlepiecemattress. The improved construction offers the further advantage thatthe several sections of a mattress may. be di'fierentl arranged, whenreplaced, so that they wil wear evenly.

The referred embodiment of our invention is i lustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the berthbroken away and sectioned in part; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectionthrough the mattress, on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a view in sectionon line 2-S of Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a wooden-frameberth; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4, showing the sec--vtions of the mattress in elevation; and Fig. 6

provided with trunnions 3 which are receivedV m bearings secured uponthe Wall of the car. In Fig. 4, a wooden-frame berth is shown, thisconsisting of side-frames 4 and 5 connected at their ends by woodenend-members 6 and a wooden panel 7, which is secured within thisrectangular frame. Mounted upon the panel 7 and the frame of the berth,are a plurality of spiral springs 8, arranged in rows lengthwise andcrosswise of the berth. The lower ends of these springs may be tiedtogether by thin sheet-metal strips, as indicated at 9, and the upperends of the springs of each row may be similarly secured to thlnsheet-metal strips 10. A webbing 11 may be inserted between the ends ofthe springs and the strips to which they are fixed, to revent noise dueto the rattling of the meta lic surfaces one on another. Thin, fiat,sheetmetal springs 12 may be provided extendi across the cushion, eachoverlying a line o the spiral springs, and each secured to the strips 10overlying the same. These flat sprmgs support a fabric 13, whichoverlies tiem and the edges of which are secured in any suitable mannerat the bottom of the mattress. It will be seen that by this constructionthe spiral springs 8 are almost equal in length to the total thicknessof the berth, since the lower ends of these springs extend all the waydown to the wooden panel 7 and properly cleaning the berth, because ofthe l bear thereon except where they extend over llength of the springs8, the surface of the thin strips 9. By reason-of the great the berth ismore yieldingly supported than the surface of a berth constructed as hasheretofore been the practice, and the berth will therefore be much moreco1nfo1tablethan those heretofore provided. In pivotally mounted berthsof this character, it is usual to employ a lock at the center of theupper edge of the berth, operating reciprocating rods, the ends of whichareconnected to the ends of the berth.

lock is operated. v

In order to secure even greater length for the springs 8, the-panel 7may be made of sheet-metal, thereby permitting of increasing the lengthof the springs 8 by the di'er-V ence between the thickness of thesheet-metal and Wooden panels. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 6.In this form of berth, vthe end-members 2 of the frame of the berth aremetallic castings curved in the direction of their length and of angularcross-section. The side-members 15 of the frame are also metallic piecesof angular cross-section and are secured at their ends to theend-members 2. To the frame thus constructed, is secured a panel l16 ofthin sheet-metal, this panel being flanged at its edges as shown in Fig.6 and secured to the members of the frame by means of rivets, whichenter the sides of the frame-members rather than the lower facesthereof, so as not to show when the berth is closed. A stri 14 ofsheetmetal may be secured at its ateral edges to the upper side-member15 and to the panelv 16, to provide a guideway for the locking membersas above described. The mattress may be constructed as described abovein connection with Fig. 4. It will be seen that by this construction thesprings 8 for supporting the yielding surface of the mattress are ofeven greater. length than the springs shown in Fig. 4, and t e bed willhave the maximum softness permitted by the thickness of the berth'.

The mattress for the berth is constructed in a lurality of sectionsarranged to lie side by slde within the frame of the berth, as in thisway the several sections may be readily taken out for the purpose ofrepairing or cleaning, and may be arranged Within the i berth indifferent relations, so that the wear l thereon will be evenlydistributed. In Fig. 5, we have shown two mattress sections, 1 7,supported. uponl the wooden panel 7 within the frame of the berth. Asthe strain upon the panel 7, due to the weight supported thereby whenthe sections of the mattress are thus arranged, vmight be so great as tocause cracking ol' the wood, we prefer to employ a brace 18 betweenadjacent-sections of the mattress, this brace consisting of a strip ofmetal'of T section, extending across the berth and secured at a numberof points to the panel 7. In a berth employing a sheetmetal panel, asshown in Fig. 6, such la brace need not be employed.

Referring now to struction of mattress which we prefer to employ will bedescribed. The mattress has an upper and a lower rectangular frame, eachconsisting of four strips of sheet-metal secured together at their ends,the lower frame being indicated bythe reference 19 and the upper one bythe reference 19. Extending across the cushion between the side-membersof the lower frame 19, are a plurality oi' strips 20 of thinsheet-metal, .having their lends secured by rivets to the side-membersof the lower frame 19. A plurality of narrow sheet-metal strips 21extend lengthwise of the mattress between the end-members of the lowerframe 19 and are secured intermediate their ends to the strips 20 and attheir ends to the end-members of the lower frame 19. The springs 8 aresecured at their lower ends to the strips 20 and 21,by means of staplesor rivets or other suitable means, a strip of coarse fabric 22 beinglaid over each strip 20 and between it and the lower ends of the springs8 supported thereon, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper ends of the springs 8may be secured to thin strips of sheet-metal 23 .running lengthwise ofthe mattress and secured at their ends to the 'end-members of the upperframe 19', and these strips 23 or the upper ends of the springs 8, orboth, may be secured to flat sheet-metal springs 24 extending across themattress and secured at their ends to the side-members of the upperframe 19. Each flat spring 24 may be covered with a strip of coarsefabric 25. A covering 26 of coarse fabric is laid over the entire uppersurface of the mattress, and its edges are carried down to the 'bottomof the mattress and secured thereto in any suitable manner. An outercovering 27 of ticking or other suitable fabric is laid over this coarsecovering 26, and its edges are also carried down to the bottom of themattress. A covering of fabric is provided for each of the strips of thelower frame 19, and the coverings 26 and 27 may be secured in positionby sewing the edges thereof to this covering for the ftrips of frame 19.Or, as shown in Fig. 2, the outer covering 27 may have the edge portionsthereof carried down and around the strips of the f lower frame 19, andthe edges of the coarse covering 26 may be sewed to the covering 27 l at28; the construction in this respect, how- -.f-

Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the conever, may be changed as desired. As thusporting the u )per surface of the mattress, constiucted, the'bottom ofthe mattress is open between the several strips 20, so that the interiorof the mattress may be cleaned. If desired, however, the outer covering27 may be extended over the bottom of the mattress or a separatecovering may be provided for the bottom of themattress; in

either case, this bottom covering is arranged to be detachable, 'as bysewing it along one edge and providing buttons for holding the otherthree edges.

ln Fig. 1, which shows the mattress constructed as above described andarranged upon a metallic-panel berth of the type illustrated in Fig. 6,the mattress is shown as consisting of two mattress sections arran edside by side.

out, in order to vclean or repair it, and in relacing the sectionswithin the frame of the lierth they may be differently arranged, so thatthe wear thereon will be uniform.

It will be seen that in a mattress constructed as above described, thelower ends of the spiral springs for supporting the yielding surface ofthe mattress bear directly u on the upper surface of the panel of thebert so that these springs are of the maximum thickness permitted by thethickness of the berth. In order to osition the springs, strips of thinsheet-meta are lemployed to which the lower ends of the springs areaffixed and the springs extend over these but bear on the panel oneither side of the strips; instead of the sheet-metal strips, othermeans might be employed for tying the lower ends of the springs togetherto position them.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows 1. In a sleeping-car, aside-wall, a frame for a berth dpivotally mounted thereon, a panelsecure to said frame, and a mattress supported on said frame and rovidedwith a spring-supported upper su ace, the lower ends of said springs ofthe mattress extending in close proximity to said panel, substantially4as set forth.

2. In a sleeping-car, a side-wall, a frame for a berth ivotally mountedthereon, a

Vpanel secure to said frame, and a mattress aving strips extendin acrossthe frame and spiral s rings secure to said strips and yieldingysupporting the upper surface of the mattress, said strips being ada )tedto bear upon the upper surface of sai panel, substantially as set forth.

3. In a sleeping-car, a side-Wall, a rectangular frame for a berthpivotally mounted thereon, a panel secured to said frame, and a mattresssupported on said frame and provided with sheet-metal strips extendingacross the bottoni thereof and s iral springs mounted on said strips andyie dingly sup- As thus constructed, eit erl section of the mattress maybe readilyr taken only by said strips, substantially as set said stripsbeing adapted to bear on said panel and the lower ends of said spiralsprings being spaced apart from said panel orth. 4. In a sleeping-car, aside-wall, a frame for a berth pivotally mounted thereon, a

panel of sheet-metal secured to'saidframe, and a mattress supported onsaid frame and provided with a s ring-supported up er surface, the loweren s of the springs of t emattress extending in close proximity to saidsheet-metal panel, substantially as set forth.

5. In a sleeping-car, a side-wall, a frame for a berth pivotally mountedthereon, a

panel of sheet-metal secured to said frame,

and a mattress supported on the frame and provided with sheet-metalstrips extending across the bottom thereof and s iral springs mounted onsaid strips and ie dingly supporting the upper suiface o the mattress,said strips heilig adapted to bear on said v' sheet-metal panel and thelower ends of saidv spiral springs being spaced apart from said panllonly by said strips, substantially as set ort 6.A In a sleeping-car, aside-wall, a frame for a berth pivotallyr mounted thereon, a panelsecured to said frame and a mattress supported by the frame, saidmattress having sheet-metal stri s running len hwise thereof at its sidee ges, sheet-meta strips extending across the mattress, secured at theirends to said strips and corresponding in shape to said panel, spiralsprings mounted upon said last-named strips and having their lower endsin proximity to said panel, anda g surface covering-for the mattressyieldingly supported by set forth.

7. In a sleeping-car, a side-wall, a ,rectangular frame for a berthpivotally mounted thereon, a panel of sheet-steel secured at its lateraledges to said frame, and a mattress supported by said frame, saidmattress having sheet-metal strips running lengthwise thereof at itsside edges,sheetmetal strips extending across the mattress, secured attheir ends to said stri s and corresponding in shape to said sreet-metal panel, spiral springs mounted on said last-named strips andhaving their lower ends in proximity to said panel, and a surfacecovering for the said springs, substantially as mattressyieldingly'supported b said spiral springs, substantially as set fort 8.In a sleeping-car, a side-wall, a 4rectangular frame for a berthpivotally mounted thereon, a sheet-metal panel secured to the frame, anda mattress supported by the frame, said Ymattress having a rectangularframe, sheet-metal strips extending between the sideand end-members ofthe frame of the mattress, 'secured at their ends to said members andcorresponding in shape to the panel underlying them, spiral springssecured to said strips, and a covering for the mattrcss yieldingly suported by said springs and secured at its edges to the frame of themattress, substantially as set forth.

E). In a sleeping-cai', a side-wall, a rectangular frame for a berthpivotally mounted thereon, a sheet-metal panel secured to the frame, anda mattress supported by the frame, said mattress having an upper and alower rectangular metallic frame, sheetmetal strips extending across thelower frame, securedat. their ends thereto and shaped to correspond tothe panel underlying them, flat sheet-metal s )rings extending acrossthe upper frame an secured at their ends thereto, spiral springs securedto said strips and said flat springs, and a covering for the mattressyieldinglv supported by said spiral s rings, substantially as set forth.

10. ln-a sleeiing-car, a side-wall, a rectangular frame or a berthpivotally mounted thereon, a panel secured to the frame, and a mattresssupported by the frame, said inattress consisting of a plurality ofmattress sections individually removable and interchangeable as to theirpositions upon the berth frame, substantially as set forth.

1]. ln. a sleeping-rar, aside-wall, a reetangular frame for a berthpivotally mounted thereon, a sheet-metal panel having its lateral edgessecured to said frame, and a mattress supported by said frame,saidmattress consisting of a plurality of mattress sections individuallyremovable and interchan eable as to their positions upon the berth rame,substantially as set forth.

12. In a slee iing-car, a side-wall, a rectangular frame or a berthpivotally mounted thereon, a panel secured to the frame, and a .mattresssupported by the frame, said inattress consisting of a pluralit ofmattress sections individually remova le and interchangeable as to theirpositions upon the berth frame, and a brace extending across the paneland secured thereto between each pair of adjacent mattress sections,substantially as set forth.

13. In a sleeping-car, a side-wall, a frame for a berth pivotallymounted thereon, a

5-0 panel secured to said frame, and a mattress l supported on saidframe and provided with s rings for supporting the upper surface tereof, the lower ends of said springs for the mattress bearin upon saidpanel, substantially as set forti.

14. In a sleeping-car, a side wall, a frame for a berth ivotally mountedthereon, a panel securedpto said frame, and a mattress supported on saidframe and provided with s )rings for supporting the upper surface tiereof, the lower ends of said springs for the mattress bearing upon`said panel, and means for positioning the lower ends of the springs.

15. In a sleeping-car, a side-wall, a frame for la berth pivotallymounted thereon, a panel secure(v to said frame and a mattress supportedon said frame and provided with s rings for supporting the upper surfacet iereof, the lower ends of said springs for the mattress bearing uponsaid panel, and means extendingr across the cushion for tying togetherthe lowerends of the springs, substantially as set-forth.

16. In a sleeping-car, a sidewall, a frame for a berth pivotally mountedthereon, a panel secured to said frame, and a mattress supported on saidframe and provided with a frame, flat sheet-metal springs extendingacross the same and spiral springs supporting said flat springs, thelower ends of said spira springs bearing on said panel, substantially asset forth.

17. In a sleeping-cai', a side-wall, a frame for a berth iivotallmounted thereon, a panel secured to sai( frame, and ainattress su)ported on said frame and provided with a frame, flat sheet-metalsprings extending across the saine and spiral springs suportin said flatsprings, the lower ends of sai spira 'springs bearing on said panel, andmeans for positioning) the lower ends of the spiral springs, sustantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 20th day of May, 1908.

Witnesses R. M. Finns, P. J. Bi'cicns.

